Question:hard

Which cephalosporin characteristically causes thrombocytopenia?

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Pair low platelets and low neutrophils with the antipseudomonal third-generation agent.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Cefixime
  • Ceftazidime
  • Cefoperazone
  • Cefdinir
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Beyond the generic cephalosporin reactions, examiners test the drug-specific toxicities. So the task is to match thrombocytopenia to the one agent that owns it.

Step 2: The marrow-related effects of neutropenia together with thrombocytopenia are the recognised fingerprint of ceftazidime. Therefore ceftazidime is the answer.

Step 3: Separating the others: cefoperazone is the bleeding-and-disulfiram drug (its side chain interferes with vitamin K dependent clotting factors and with alcohol metabolism), while cefixime and cefdinir are oral agents whose dominant complaint is diarrhea. None of these three is the textbook cause of a low platelet count.

\[\boxed{\text{Ceftazidime}}\]
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